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Friday, December 13, 2013

It’s been a good week at the mailbox for me. I’ve been waiting for a delivery from The Vermont Country Store, and it arrived the other day.

The folks in Vermont may call it Puff Candy, but I call it Sponge Candy. It’s plain and simple with no thick chocolate covering.

This is what it looks like for those of you that have never heard of it. I must say that the bottom whitish part is kind of hard, but the part that looks like a sponge really just melts in your mouth. The minimum that I could purchase was three bags, so that should last me a couple of months if I eat one piece a day. A nice holiday treat for me.

I remember finding a good sized brick of sponge candy without the hard white bottom many many moons ago near Chicago. That had to be 30 or more years ago, and I’ve never seen anything like it since. Too bad. The melt in your mouth part is my favorite.

For the last three or four years, I’ve received an envelope from my brother, Carl, just about this time of year.

I like to keep a calendar on my refrigerator so I can try to keep track of what day it is. Carl knows this, and began designing a calendar for me that has monthly pictures that he takes off of my blog posts.

Here’s next year’s edition. This year, he seems to have chosen a people theme for the calendar. So I’ll get to remember friends and family throughout the year. This is so much more personal than the calendars you can buy in a store. Thanks again, Carl!

It actually got fairly warm outside today which was nice. However, another blast from the north is scheduled to arrive early tomorrow morning so I made sure to take my extend-a-stay propane tank to be filled today. It was just about empty, and I want to be prepared to keep these old bones warm when I’m at home. The tank refill place is right here in Winnie, and the refuge picks up the tab for the RV volunteers. That extra tank is sure nice so I don’t have to pack up the motorhome and drive it over there each time I need propane.

Tomorrow and Sunday I’m working at the hunter check in station. A local volunteer, Kay, has been hired to be the check station operator, and she could use some support with identifying the ducks that the hunters bring in. I know Kay, and it won’t take her long to feel confident about the ducks and geese. I just hope she’s ready for taking out the gizzards of the mottled ducks. They do stink. I’ll help her with the paperwork on those ducks.

I do believe it is also the Chile day for the hunters. Once a year, after the duck hunt break that happens around Thanksgiving, the Anahuac NWR Friends Group puts on a Chile feed for the hunters. It’s a fun time, and the hunters appreciate it. With tomorrow’s foggy forecast with dropping temps, I’m sure all the Chile will be gone. These hunters get out to their ‘spots’ at four in the morning! I’ll let you know how that goes.

Sandie asked the question before I could - why do you take out the gizzards of the mottled ducks? I remember watching my mom cut up chickens they butchered on the farm, and I thought the gizzard was so disgusting.

My Mom always loved sponge candy. I remember when I was a kid I would always get some at Halloween. I hate the stuff so my Mom would get whatever I got from my treat bag. She also loved those Halloween kisses, those molasses candies. I hated them also. Seeing that bag of sponge candy made me remember how much my Mom loved the stuff. Enjoy it.

It's nice to have brothers who send a much anticipated present each year. Mine sends me a box of my favorite hometown homemade chocilat coconut cream candy. My gift doesn(t last nearly as long ad yours. :-)). It is great fun to get things in the mail.

In a large saucepan, combine sugar, syrup, and vinegar; cook over low heat, stirring until sugar melts. Cook without stirring until mixture is very brittle when placed in cold water, about 300° on a candy thermometer. Remove from heat and add the baking soda. Mixture will foam. Pour into a well-buttered 9x9x2 pan. When hard, break into pieces. If desired, dip in melted dipping chocolate.

Wow, I'm going to try that recipe. So, if you don't, Judith, just check in with me - about January 1st! This next few days I'll be traveling and need to do SOMETHING for Christmas when I get to Louisiana. I love the calendar too. One year my brother made one for me with all old old old photos of our parents from the early 20th century! I still have and love it.

I can see the smile on your face as you place another piece of candy in your mouth. Our kids got us a calendar like that last year with pictures of all the family dogs. Hope we get another one this year. Gizzards are good eating, from chickens, not sure about ducks. We do have an old family recipe

I've made calendars using Snapfish before, and now that you've reminded me I think I'll make myself a desk calendar for work now that I'm actually there 3 days a week! Enjoy your candy, I'm thinking about stocking up on Mi-del candy cane flavored gluten-free sandwich cookies at the store today if they still have them. They were 2 for $5 and when I looked online it was $5 per box or more everywhere else!